معرفی
Dr Ulrich Von Hecker is a Senior Lecturer (Reader) in the School of Psychology at Cardiff University, where he has taught since 2000. He leads research on how spatial processes underpin abstract reasoning and social cognition, focusing on mental models, social hierarchies, and cognitive deficits in depression.
Education
- Diploma in Psychology, University of Hamburg (1986)
- Ph.D. in Psychology, Free University of Berlin (1992)
- Habilitation, Free University of Berlin (1999)
Research Interests
Dr Von Hecker’s work integrates spatial cognition, social cognition, and cognitive psychopathology. He investigates how spatial metaphors (e.g., up-down, left-right) structure our understanding of social hierarchies and abstract categories, and how these mappings vary with cultural factors like reading direction. A second major strand examines constructive mental processes—how people build coherent mental models of novel social groups or networks—revealing the role of logical inference, stereotypes, and reciprocity. Finally, he explores cognitive symptoms of depression, demonstrating that sub-clinical depression selectively impairs the formation of global mental models while sparing detail-level processing.
Publication Trends
Across more than 60 peer-reviewed articles, three clear streams emerge: (1) experimental studies on spatial representation of order, equivalence, and social status; (2) integrative papers on mental model construction in social contexts; and (3) investigations of cognitive control, fluency, and attention in both healthy and depressed populations. Recent work increasingly employs neuroimaging (fMRI), eye-tracking, and cross-cultural designs.
Scientific Awards & Recognition
- Nominated to ESRC Peer Review College (2010–2012)
- Empanelled as Research Guide, Christ University, Bangalore (2009–2011)
Supervision & Grants
Dr Von Hecker currently supervises PhD students including Lukas Wolf (embodiment of social values) and Jin Zixi, and incoming MSc student Maohua Nie. His research has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Polish Committee for Scientific Research (KBN), and the Russell Sage Foundation.
Teams & Collaborations
He heads an active research group and collaborates internationally with scholars such as Geoffrey Haddock (Cardiff), Simon Dymond (Swansea), Ana Guinote (UCL), Elanor Hinton (Bristol), and Karl Christoph Klauer (Freiburg), among many others spanning Europe, North America, and Asia.
